Kansas City Royals - PlayerWatch

June 17, 2013|Reuters

C Salvador Perez went 0-for-5, snapping an 11-game hitting streak, coinciding with the move to the No. 3 spot in the batting order and starting one game after his return from the bereavement list. Since his return, the Royals are hitting .262 and averaging 4.4 runs per game.

Alcides Escobar matched his season high with three hits, and has hit safely in all four games this series after going 4-for-27 on the homestand. "I've been feeling good the last few days," Escobar said. "I don't put my head down, I can swing the bat good, I know I can go up and hit."

1B Eric Hosmer said it was a very difficult feeling to see his hard liner strike RHP Alex Cobb in Saturday's game, resulting in a mild concussion for the Rays starter. So it made Hosmer feel a lot better when he got to see Cobb in the hospital Saturday night, laughing and joking, acting normal. Hosmer said Cobb even cracked a joke at his expense, saying at least he got Hosmer out on the play. "It was great to see him," Hosmer said. "I felt better."

RHP Wade Davis said it wasn't anything more special to face his former team, the Rays, on Sunday. But Davis pitched like it meant something, bouncing back after a rocky first inning to throw six strong innings and pick up his first win since May 15. "I knew once he got through the first inning, he was going to be fine," manager Ned Yost said. "And Wade did a great job of limiting the damage right there."